Why UNL

At UNL, Life is Right.

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Archie is proudly showing off the butterfly creation he made at the Lancaster County Super Fair. #lnk

There is nothing like the smell of fresh concrete in the morning. #UNL

Regram: "What is this? A Capitol building for ants?!"- @iptdafoo

Sharing dessert with the safety @nathangerry

Experience our building in a whole new way by gazing through Larry Bell's "Glass Cube Cal #8," currently on view in the Great Hall until August 23 as part of the "Land of Enchantment" and "The Romance of the Moon" exhibitions. #larrybell #UNL #LNK

Honors Programs

The Honors Program at the University of Nebraska is a community of talented and committed students who seek an intense intellectual experience in a major research university setting. Honors students have access to special honors classes, faculty mentors and unique research opportunities. Additionally, many Honors Students recieve a $500 textbook scholarship and all have the opportunity to live in the historic Neihardt Residence Hall.

Who Should Apply?

Honors Program applications undergo a comprehensive review. We are most interested in students who demonstrate:

a record of academic excellence

a desire to engage in rigorous and challenging courses

evidence of involvement and leadership in school and community activities

the maturity necessary to succeed at a higher level in college

There are separate processes, deadlines and benefits for transfer students interested in the University Honors Program. They must apply for the University Honors Program.

Fall Priority Deadline: November 15

Spring Final Deadline: February 15

Applications will be accepted after the February 15 deadline, and qualified students will be admitted if space is available. Notifications for applicants who submitted materials by the fall priority deadline will be sent in late December. Notifications for applicants who submit materials by the spring deadline will be sent by April 1.

Honors Contact

The Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science & Management is a highly selective academic and scholarship programs that educates the tomorrow’s business and technology leaders through a focused curriculum of computer science, business and real-world projects. Raikes scholars are provided full room and board in the Kauffman Residential Center, networking opportunities with current business leaders, a textbook scholarship and top internship placement.

Eligibility Requirements

Composite ACT score of at least 31, or a combined SAT score of at least 1380 (Mathematics and Critical Reading Total); Average ACT of accepted students is a 33.5.

Raikes Contact

The College of Business Administration Honors Academy is a unique cohort-based learning environment for high-ability students with demonstrated leadership potential. CBA Honors students solve real-world business problems in a small-class team environment lead by top faculty, develop network and mentor relationships with business leaders, and compete in regional and national business competitions. A $500 textbook scholarship and $2,500 study abroad scholarship are available to CBA Honors students.

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Apply for the Honors Program

Receive Notification

Notifications regarding honors program status will be sent to the email address provided on the application for admission. Please ensure that the address provided is current and is the best way to reach you.

Transfer Application Instructions

Before you Apply

Review whether you are eligible for the honors program you’re interested in.

See our application tips for completing the short answer, resume and essay questions.

Keep in mind, there are a limited number of spaces available in each program.

Submit your 250-word essay

Provide 1 Letter of Recommendation

Submit Supporting Admission Materials by the due dates:

Fall semester: March 1

Spring semester: October 1

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the initial deadline.

Application Tips

Resume

Your resume is how you provide faculty and staff reviewers information about your academic interests, skills, and other relevant experiences that make you an appealing candidate for the honors programs.

For the purpose of this application process, your resume should be comprehensive but brief. It's not necessary to spend a lot of time describing experiences unrelated to academics.

Be sure to include:

Leadership experiences with details about your role in the activity.

Volunteer and extracurricular activities.

Relevant work experience.

Awards, honors, and scholarships.

Formatting Tips

Resumes should be 1 page in length (samples are provided below for reference).

Be aware that the application form removes all formatting, so it's important to keep your text layout as simple as possible.

To see how it will appear for faculty and staff reviewers, copy and paste your resume into a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad for Windows users, TextEdit in plain-text mode for Mac users).

You can use simplified bullets, all caps, and line breaks to indicate headings or to draw attention to important information.

Short Answer

The short answer section consists of several questions—one optional.

Required for all applicants:

Select one of your service or extra-curricular activities and describe what the experience meant to you in 250 words or less.

Indicate your professional goals. Please be specific and limit your response to 25 words or less.

Required for Raikes School and CBA Honors Academy applicants:

Describe your computer science and business experience, including course-related experience, work experience and extra-curricular activities in 250 words or less.

Optional:

If there is anything else you would like to include in your application, such as an unusual circumstance or special information about yourself that would be relevant, please describe it.

The optional short answer question is an opportunity for you to share anything unique about yourself or your experiences that would help faculty and staff to get to know you better. You may also use this space if there is something that needs further explanation not addressed in the other application questions, such as an academic deficiency.

The short answer responses should be prepared in advance. Be aware that the application form removes all formatting, so it's important to keep your text layout as simple as possible. To see how it will appear for faculty and staff reviewers, copy and paste your response into a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad for Windows users, TextEdit in plain-text mode for Mac users).

Essay

The essay section asks for an answer to 1 of 5 Common Application* questions. It’s recommended that you choose the essay prompt that best allows you to tell faculty and staff reviewers something about you that they won’t get from your high school transcripts and test scores. The word limit is 650 words.

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there and why is it meaningful to you?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, which marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

The essay response should be prepared in advance. Be aware that the application form removes all formatting, so it's important to keep your text layout as simple as possible. To see how it will appear for faculty and staff reviewers, copy and paste your response into a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad for Windows users, TextEdit in plain-text mode for Mac users).

*Reprinted with permission of the Common Application.

Education

Included the full name of your high school, city, state and years attended.

Include your GPA, rank, and your scores for the PSAT and SAT/ACT.

Leadership

Include specific activities where your leadership has been demonstrated.

Activities may be from coursework, community service, work/internships, athletics, etc.

Activities may be ongoing engagements or one-time instances.

Use action verbs to describe activities and your involvement.

Include the year (9, 10, 11, 12) in which the activity took place.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Consider using categories to group activities if you have multiple years and events (e.g. athletics, community service).

Include the year in which you participated in the activity and list the most recent activities first.

Work Experience/Internships

Use only if applicable.

Include the year (9, 10, 11, 12) and the number or hours worked per week.

Awards/Honors/Scholarships

Use only if applicable.

Include the year (9, 10, 11, 12) and the number or hours worked per week.

Sample Resumes

Get Ahead and Stay Ahead

Advance Credit

Get college credit for advanced classes or tests you’ve taken.

Advance Credit

At NEBRASKA, we acknowledge your extra efforts in participating in your high school's Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The University also accepts College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit.

See How Advance Credit is awarded at Nebraska:

Leadership Development Programs

Leadership Development Programs

Chancellor's Leadership Class (CLC)

The Chancellor's Leadership Class is designed to teach students how to actively participate in college life, directly impacting student organizations on campus.

CLC students receive a $1,000 scholarship their freshman year, have close interaction with Chancellor Harvey Perlman and other community leaders, and work with freshmen and upper-class leaders to build a supportive network

To be considered, complete the personal statement on your application for admission or submit it through your MyRED account.

Student Involvement

Get involved with more than 500 registered student organizations on campus and explore the leadership possibilities. You can also start a new organization if you don't find something that interests you.

Office of Academic Success & Intercultural Services (OASIS)

OASIS, in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, includes professional and student staff who are familiar with the needs of low-income, first-generation, and ethnic minority students. They offer:

Free tutoring to all UNL students.

A mix of academic, diversity, and social programs to support student success.

The OASIS Student Success Program, a consolidation of 3 programs:

Promising Scholars

First-year student scholars are provided tools to assist with academic success, work one-on-one with professional staff, and participate in a student success seminar and workshops, and HAVE FUN!

Chancellor's Scholars

Chancellor's Scholars work one-on-one with professional staff who assist you with developing an academic success plan to meet or exceed the GPA requirements of your scholarship. You'll attend a student success seminar, connect with other high ability students, participate in social activities, and work together to achieve success.

Math Resource Center

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)

SSD provides special assistance to students with disabilities through individualized help and counseling. SSD is committed to providing students with the support that will enable them to reach their academic goals.

Spanish Tutoring Center

Student Support Services (SSS)

SSS offers a broad range of opportunities and services to promote your academic success if you are eligible. Qualifying students possess an academic need, are low-income, or are first generation (neither parent has a bachelor's degree).

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Corp (UTAC)

UTAC is an academic assistance program that increases your performance by targeting traditionally difficult academic courses—those that have a high percentage of D or F grades and withdrawals—and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated sessions.

Writing Assistance Center

The Writing Assistance Center can help you with exploring ideas, getting started, drafting, revising, editing, resumes, cover letters, research papers and reports. The center will assist with papers for any course (not just for English classes).

Education Abroad

See the world with our study abroad opportunities.

Education Abroad

Go Big Places

Study, intern, research, or do a service learning project in more than 50 countries and 140 universities world-wide.

At NEBRASKA, there is a program for any major or interest so we encourage you to take advantage of this excellent opportunity. The academic and personal growth you gain as a result will benefit your time on campus and after graduation.

Our Education Abroad program is so highly regarded that each year, dozens of students from other U.S. colleges and universities utilize our programs to study abroad.

Service Learning

UNL‘s students have a strong tradition of giving back to the community.

Service Learning

The Big Event

The Big Event is a one-day service event bringing UNL students, faculty, and staff together to meet the needs of the larger Lincoln community to say "Thanks" for its continual support of UNL. The Big Event is held in late March or early April each year.

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, more than 2,500 students, faculty and staff volunteer and give thanks to Lincoln this spring as a part of The Big Event.